No more tax increases

The city of Kent has and is continuing to look for a “blank check” from the residents of Kent.

For more than a decade, the City Council and mayor have continued to spend money they don’t have. This started in 2009 with the opening of the ShoWare Center, an $80 million boondoggle that has lost money every year in existence. It was financed with bonds that are due and payable soon.

The Panther Lake annexation support money will run out after next year. The retail business, in that area, doesn’t contribute enough tax money to pay for the area. It will be made up by all of us that are property owners in Kent.

This City Council is shying away from tax laden businesses that would help, if not take care of, the financial woes of Kent. Legalizing the sale of marijuana would be a step in the right direction and so would lowering the gaming tax to attract the non tribal casino business back into Kent. Instead, our City Council and the mayor still want to run the city like it’s in the 1980s. A nice time period but completely out of touch with today’s needs.

I urge all citizens of Kent to vote no on anymore tax increases until the City Council and the mayor can get a grip on the budget.